Wandering the Four Seas, Chapter 145: Daoist Lin Taixuan

The torrent of rain poured down from the sky as heavy, dark clouds pressed low over the earth. Rainwater washed over the gruesome wound on the Daoist's shoulder, mixing with fresh blood that stained his Eight Trigrams Taiji robe.

Suspended in mid-air amidst the howling wind and rain, the fiend exuded an aura even more formidable than usual. Black smoke condensed into a solid form, and its body, covered densely in black scales, looked as though its very skin had been stripped away. It was hideous beyond description.

The sharp barbs at its joints harbored extremely potent demonic poison. Its mouth lacked the gentle curves of human lips, and its voice was shrill and grating:

"I have slain quite a few orthodox Daoists... and I must admit, you possess a spine of unyielding iron. What a pity that you are afflicted with my demonic poison; you can never escape the tragic fate of having your spiritual essence devoured by me."

Within the Daoist's narrow, phoenix-like eyes, not a trace of fear remained. He looked up at the fiend hovering in the rain, his tone resolute:

"Even in death, my heart shall never waver in its resolve to vanquish demons and uphold the Dao! You inherently evil fiend, why do you not quickly step forward and meet your doom!"

The fiend’s crimson eyes suddenly turned sharp. Glancing at the junior brothers and sisters whom the Daoist was shielding behind him, it transformed into a wisp of black smoke and surged directly toward them.

Since the Jiazi year, various sects had selected and dispatched elite disciples from their inner and outer courts to form demon-slaying squads. They traveled far and wide to subdue demons and succor the common people. Because demons and evil entities ran rampant everywhere, battles followed one after another without a moment of respite, leaving everyone exhausted both in body and spirit.

At this juncture, they were all bone-weary and fatigued. This fiend was towering in its malevolent aura, and its strength had even reached the Great Completion of the Jade Garment realm. Surrounded by it, the Daoists could not break through and instead found themselves constrained by it.

Now, seeing it transform into smoke and attack amid the flashing lightning, it felt as though the end of the world had arrived. Every single one of them was filled with despair, incapable of offering any resistance.

The Daoist shouted sternly:

"Junior brothers, junior sister, pull yourselves together! Even if we die today, we must not tarnish the glorious reputation of the Cloud Heaven Sect!"

His words carried a majestic willpower. The Daoists' minds, already on the verge of collapse, instantly regained their vitality. Raising their battered swords, they gathered their remaining meager spiritual qi and formed the array they had practiced since first entering the sect.

"The Seven Stars of the Big Dipper, descend to subjugate demons!"

Amidst the torrential downpour, their voices were shattered into pieces by the dense raindrops hitting the ground.

Using a bone as a blade, the fiend decapitated a young Daoist, instantly shattering the dying Big Dipper Array. Its sharp, curved hands gathered the surging life force into a crimson blood orb, which it swallowed into its twisted and distorted maw. Its momentum instantly surged by another notch.

"Junior Brother Zhao!" cried the wounded Daoist. Tears stained his bloodshot eyes, and filled with a mixture of grief and rage, he mustered the last of his remaining spiritual qi.

A pristine, bone-chilling sword qi shot forth from the tip of his sword, heading straight for the fiend far above.

The fiend chuckled lightly, effortlessly dissolving into a wisp of smoke. The sword qi soared up into the high heavens, dissolving into the boundless curtain of rain.

Another mist of blood burst forth.

"Junior Sister Cheng!"

"A female cultivator's blood is indeed much sweeter." The fiend licked its lips with its long tongue, looking mockingly at the wide-eyed, furious Daoist.

It was waiting. Waiting to see when this powerful Daoist would finally experience a shattered state of mind.

The Daoist's sea of qi was now entirely empty; he was powerless to defeat the fiend hovering in mid-air. His sword slowly slipped from his blood-soaked palm to the ground.

"If you harbor any resentment, direct it all at me. I only ask that you spare my junior brothers and junior sister."

"Senior Brother, do not beg him!" Filled to the brim with fury, another Daoist forcefully overdrawn his sea of qi and flew into mid-air on his sword. "Today, this poor Daoist... will fight you to the death!"

The fiend initially paid no heed, but upon sensing the wildly turbulent spiritual qi, its pupils suddenly constricted.

The blood mist scattered, instantly washed away into nothingness by the rain pouring from the heavens. Despite continually devouring life force, the fiend was still somewhat depleted of demonic energy after the intense battle. Buffeted by the shockwave of self-detonation, its already chaotic demonic qi fluctuated even further.

"So you were already at the end of your tether," the wounded Daoist muttered, rain washing over his cheeks, making it impossible to tell rain from tears. "Junior brothers, junior sister, do not act rashly!"

With one person sacrificing themselves to rush forward and weaken the fiend's power, the remaining members intended to follow suit. Sensing their intentions, the Daoist hurriedly shouted to stop them.

Before descending the mountain, their master had given repeated and earnest instructions to take good care of his younger junior brothers and sister. Even if someone had to die to weaken the fiend and buy a sliver of survival for the others, it should be him stepping forward.

There were only six junior brothers and sisters remaining. All of them looked to the wounded Daoist for guidance. Raising their swords, they watched the fiend in mid-air, guarding against another attack.

"What a display of deep human affection," the fiend mocked, secretly circulating its inner core to replenish its nearly exhausted demonic power.

A auspicious cloud rose from beneath the Daoist's feet, carrying him into the air to stand level with the fiend.

"I know this is a delaying tactic on your part," the Daoist said, his expression returning to cold composure. "Since there is nothing else today, I shall chat with you a little longer."

"The Cloud Heaven Sect claims to be the number one sect in the Great Qian Dynasty. As an inner disciple at the Realm of wondrous Truth, how could you have nothing else to do?" the fiend said boldly. "You are merely using a ruse to trick me, hoping to use self-detonation to harm me, just like your junior brother did."

"Senior Brother..."

The wounded Daoist extended his uninjured left hand to cut off his junior brother's words, smiling faintly:

"No need to say more. This poor Daoist has already made up his mind."

"You are in the Realm of Wondrous Truth, while I am only in the Jade Garment realm. Trading your life for mine is hardly a good deal for the Great Qian."

"This poor Daoist is willing to cast aside this mortal coil for the sake of all living beings under heaven!"

As his voice fell, the wounded Daoist's gaze suddenly turned sharp.

A dragon-like bolt of lightning suddenly plunged from the sky, striking the fiend as it hovered in mid-air, intently focused on the wounded Daoist. Amidst the thunderous explosion, the fiend crashed down to the ground.

A youth dressed in short-sleeved martial attire emerged from the bushes, wielding an ancient bronze sword and unhesitatingly severing the fiend's head.

The remaining Cloud Heaven Sect disciples, still retaining some strength, hurried over to the fiend and used a demon-suppressing talisman to seal its powers. Only when its body and soul were completely obliterated did they finally let go of their hanging hearts.

Relaxing his mind, the wounded Daoist could no longer maintain his auspicious cloud and plummeted straight down from mid-air. Five Daoists stretched out their arms to catch him like a net.

Struggling to gather his spirits, the wounded Daoist stood up, nudged the base of his sword with the tip of his foot, and kicked it upward. The Seven Stars Sword spun parallel in the air; seizing the moment, he reached out and grasped the silk-bound hilt.

Holding the sword inverted, he brought his left-hand fingers together and asked respectfully:

"May I ask fellow Daoist of what sect and school you are, and what is your honored name?"

As the rainwater washed the demonic blood clean from his sword blade, the youth held the sword behind his back, cupped his fists, and said:

"I am Su Wuming, a disciple of the Jade Mystery sect. Sensing the demonic qi here, I was hiding behind the trees to watch. Seeing the fiend struck by heavenly thunder, I could not bear to let the opportunity slip by, so I rushed out to slay it. If I have stolen the limelight from you fellow Daoists, please do not take offense."

The wounded Daoist cupped his fists in return. The other Daoists followed suit.

"This poor Daoist is Lin Taixuan, an inner disciple of the Cloud Heaven Sect. I thank Fellow Daoist Su for saving our lives here."

The others chimed in:

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Su, for saving our lives."

Su Ye hastily said:

"We are all doing our utmost for the common people under heaven; how can this be called saving lives? You fellow Daoists are not lightly injured; you should find a secluded spot first, and this poor Daoist will help you tend to your injuries."

Joy appeared on Lin Taixuan's face as he cupped his fists:

"Then I must trouble Fellow Daoist Su to treat my junior brothers and sister."

Su Ye thought to himself:

"This Daoist is clearly the most severely injured, yet the first thing on his mind is others. Only a mindset like this deserves to be called a swordsman of chivalry."

He immediately spoke up:

"Although this poor Daoist is meager in talent and learning, I will do my utmost to ensure all you fellow Daoists remain safe."